Can Creativity be Taught?

The concept of creativity is often shrouded in mystery--a gift from the gods or the muses that cannot be explained. And it's true that there is much about creativity that cannot yet be explained. But there is also a lot that we do know. And one of those things is that we can, indeed, learn how to think more creatively. There are also habits or practices that we can develop to help nurture creativity in both our personal and professional lives.

What is Creativity?

It helps to first understand what creativity is, or perhaps is not. It's not imagination, although imaginantion and creativity often go hand in hand. It's not about being an artist, although many artists are highly creative. But it also requires a lot of creativity to be an effective teacher, business or community leader, healthcare practitioner, scientist or mathematician. In fact, we all have opportunities to be creative every day.

While there is no universally accepted definition of creativity, most agee that creative problem-solving is a major aspect of creative thinking. Others would also include creative expression and creative self-actualization (although some researchers believe that these, too, simply boil down to problem solving). And what makes these creative is the notion of something new (whether an idea or a product) and something meaningful or useful (whether to that individual or to others). To me, it is very much about change, growth, adaptation and transformation.

Breaking Down the Creative Process

Although different theorists break down the creative process into slightly different steps (some four, some seven, etc.), at its core, it includes identifying the problem or challenge, generating ideas, evaluating solutions, and implementing those chosen solutions. There are specific thinking skills that apply at each stage of the process and techniques (for both individuals and groups) that can be practiced so that the process becomes more natural and effective.

There are also strategies that we can adopt in our daily lives in order to develop a more creative mindset, such as turning problems into challenges, deferring judgment, looking at things from different perspectives, living with a little ambiguity, being willing to play and even making mistakes. And there are things we can do to nurture creativity throughout our lives--such as carving out some alone time for creative work and reflection, keeping a journal or attending a workshop.

The bottom line is that, yes, creativity can be taught. There are things we can do to think more creatively and to nurture creativity in our lives. And by doing so, we can lead more enjoyable and productive lives.

Photos: Dr. Susan Keller-Mathers, assistant professor of creative studies at SUNY/Buffalo State (top) and Christine Beaman, an art and psychology major at Brenau University (below).